John A. Crouse
& Jane Cox

John A. Crouse, son of Jacob
CROUSE & Sarah EDWARDS, was born abt. 1800 in Wilkes/Ashe
Co., NC, and died 1874 in Alleghany Co., NC. He married Jane
Cox, daughter of David COX & Lucy REEVES, abt. 1825. She was born abt. 1807 in Grayson Co., VA, and died aft. 1880, probably in Alleghany Co., NC.

Notes

here were at least three men named John Crouse in
Alleghany County during the 19th century, and it can be difficult to sort them out. John A. Crouse (1800-1874) who married Jane Cox, daughter of David Cox & Lucy Reeves, lived in the Blue Ridge Mountains in southern Gap Civil Township (now Whitehead Township), near the headwaters of the Little River. His neighbors included Franklin J. Hoppers and Isom C. Wagoner. He also owned land on the other side of the Blue Ridge in Wilkes County, at the headwaters of the Roaring River. John A. Crouse died in 1874.

There was a younger John A. Crouse (c.1841-c.1870's) who was married to Sarah Ann Toliver; he lived in northern Gap Civil Township. Just to make things interesting, another John Crouse (born c.1805, wife "Bashy" or Basheba) also died in 1874; he lived in northern Gap Civil Township in the same area as the Edwards and Willey families.

Sept. 18, 1874. David HOLBROOK and J.F. CAUDILL were
appointed administrators of the estate of John CROUSE. Estate
records refer to land consisting of 100 acres on Corn Camp Creek
at the headwaters of Roaring River, and 200 acres in 4 tracts on
the Little River adj. Caswell TAYLOR, Franklin HOPPERS, I.C.
WAGGONER, J.P. CAUDILL, Stephen HOPPERS, Benjamin BILLINGS, and
Caroline JOHNSTON. The named heirs were:

July 15, 1878. David HOLBROOK &
James F. CAUDILL, Adm'rs of John CROUSE, dec'd, to J.
Reeves HOLBROOK & wife Martha A., 2 tracts of land on Little
River, for $545.60. 1st tract: beg. on the corner of the dower of
Jane CROUSE in an agreed line btw Josiah CAUDILL & John
CROUSE, adj. C.J. TAYLOR. 2nd tract: adj. Tract No. 1, JOINES?,
CAUDILL, old CROUSE corner. Land sold at public auction on May 8,
1875, by order of the Superior Court in the case of David
HOLBROOK & J.F. CAUDILL, Adm'rs of John CROUSE,
dec'd, against Thomas DOUGLAS & other heirs at law of
John CROUSE. Signed: James F. CAUDILL, David HOLBROOK. Wit: E.L.
VAUGHAN. Proved July 15, 1878 (ack'd). Reg. July 15, 1878.
(Alleghany DB 4:87.)

July 20, 1878. J.R. HOLBROOK &
wife Martha A. to Thomas W. CARTER, tract of land [no acreage
stated], for $150. Beg. on the corner of the dower of Jane CROUSE
in an agreed line btw Josiah CAUDILL & John CROUSE, adj. C.J.
TAYLOR & the corner of the land described in a deed from
David HOLBROOK & J.F. CAUDILL, Adm'rs of John CROUSE,
dec'd [DB 4:87, above]. Signed: J.R. HOLBROOK, Martha A.
HOLBROOK. Wit: Josiah CAUDILL. Proved July 20, 1878 (ack'd).
Reg. July 25, 1878. (Alleghany DB 4:84.)

John Crouse died in 1874. Jane is listed in the 1880 census with her daughter Phebe (m. Hamilton Blevins).